Salina Blue Jays

The Salina Blue Jays was the final moniker of minor league baseball teams based in Salina, Kansas between 1898–1952. The Salina Blue Jays played from 1946–1952 as a member of the Class C Western Association and an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies (1946–1952).

Salina Blue Jays
1898–1952
(1898, 1908–1910, 1912–1914, 1922–1926, 1938–1941, 1946–1952)
Salina, Kansas
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class C (1922-1923, 1938–1941, 1946–1952)
    Class D (1898, 1908–1910, 1912–1914, 1924–1926)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 18951926
Conference titles 1925, 1947
Team data
Previous names
  • Salina Blues (1898)
  • Salina Trade Winners (1908–1910)
  • Salina Insurgents (1912–1913)
  • Salina Coyotes (1914)
  • Salina Millers (1922–1926, 1938–1941)
  • Salina Blue Jays (1946–1952)
Previous parks
  • Athletic Park (1898–1914)
  • Oakdale Park (1922–1926)
  • Kenwood Field (1938–1952)

Salina also played as members of the Kansas State League (1898), Central Kansas League (1908–1910, 1912), Kansas State League (1913–1914), Southwestern League (1922–1926) and Western Association (1938–1941). The Salina Millers were an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians in 1941.

History

Minor league baseball began in 1898 with the Salina Blues, who played in the Kansas State League. The Blues won the league championship with a 9–5 record. The franchise moved to Junction City, Kansas on August 4, 1989 and back to Salina on August 8, 1898 before the league disbanded on Aug 19, 1898.[1][2][3][4]

The Salina Trade Winners joined the 1908 Class D Central Kansas League league as charter members in the new league. Other 1908 charter members were the Ellsworth Blues, Little River, Kansas, McPherson Merry Macks, Minneapolis Minnies and Newton Browns.[5]

Playing in the Central Kansas League, Salina finished 4th (24-23) in 1908, 2nd (40-28) in 1909 and 4th (44-34) in 1910. The league had expanded to an eight-team league in 1909. After the 1910 season, four teams in the Central Kansas League folded, including Salina.[6][7][8][6]

The Salina Insurgents returned to the six-team Central Kansas League in 1912. The league folded permanently after the 1912 season. the Salina Insurgents finished 31-59 (6th) in the final season of the league[6][6]

In 1913, the Salina Insurgents joined the six-team Kansas State League. The Manhattan Giants and Junction City Soldiers folded mid-season. The Salina Insurgents finished 26-63 (4th) in the completed season.[1][9]

Continuing play in the four-team Class D Kansas State League in 1914, Salina renamed as the Salina Coyotes. The Salina Cowboys finished 2nd at 47–41 in 1914. The Kansas State League folded permanently after the 1914 season.[1][10]

Salina was without a team until the Salina Millers joined the 1922 Class C Southwestern League. The 1922 Salina Millers finished 8th in the eight team league at 45–88.[11][12]

The Salina Millers finished 6th (60-72) in the 1923 Southwestern League. In 1924, Salina finished 2nd at 72–56.[13][11][14]

The 1925 Salina Millers captured the Southwestern League Pennant. The Millers finished 73–55, 1st in the regular season. In the Finals, the Topeka Senators defeated the Salina Millers 4 games to 1.[15]

The Salina Millers won the 1926 Southwestern League Championship. The Salina Millers finished 76–41, 1st in the regular season. In the Finals, the Salina Millers defeated the Enid Boosters 3 games to 1 to claim the Championship. The Southwestern League permanently folded after the season.[11][16]

In 1938, the Salina Millers joined the Western Association, which was expanding from six-teams to eight-teams.[17][18]

The Salina Millers finished in the lower division of the Western Association, playing in the league from 1938–1941. The Millers finished 8th (47-87), 7th (55-79) and 6th (60-75) in their first three seasons of playing in the Western Association. In 1941, Salina became an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and finished 7th at 46–88. After the 1941 season, the Carthage Browns and the Salina Millers folded, as the Western Association became a six-team league.[19][20]

The Salina Blue Jays were formed in 1946, rejoining the eight-team Class C Western Association, which was reforming after a hiatus during World War II. Playing as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, Salina would remain both as a Phillies affiliate and a Western Association member through 1951. Salina joined the Fort Smith Giants, Hutchinson Cubs, Joplin Miners, Leavenworth Braves, Muskogee Reds, St. Joseph Cardinals and Topeka Owls in the reformed 1946 Western League.[21][17]

1946, playing as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Blue Jays finished 51-77 (8th) in the regular season. Season attendance was 44,050, an average of 688.[22]

The Salina Blue Jays won the 1947 Western Association Pennant. The Blue Jays finished 1st in the regular season at 85–53. In the Finals, the Muskogee Reds defeated the Salina Blue Jays 3 games to 2. The 1947 attendance was 60,369, an average of 875.[23][24][17]

The 1948 Blue Jays finished 7th as 58–80. Salina drew 41,850 for the season.[25][17]

The 1949 Salina Blue Jays finished 69-69 6th in the regular season, with season attendance of 50,145.[26][17]

Salina finished 53-83 (8th) in the 1950 Western Association. The 1950 season attendance was 44,773. 658[27][17]

In 1951, the Salina Blue Jays finished 63-58 (4th) in the regular season with season attendance of 47,550. 786[28][17]

The 1952 season was the final season for the Salina Blue Jays. The Blue Jays finished 61–77, 5th in the regular season. Their season attendance of 35,984 was last in the league. Actor and game show host Bert Convy played for the 1952 Blue Jays. The Salina Blue Jays folded after the 1952 season and were replaced in the 1953 Western Association by the St. Joseph Cardinals,[29][17]

Salina did not host another minor league team until the Salina Stockade began play in the 2016 Independent Pecos League.[30]

The ballparks

Early Salina teams played at Athletic Park between 1898–1914.[31]

The Salina Millers played at Oakdale Park from 1922–1926. The ballpark was located on Oakdale Drive & 2nd Street. Oakdale Park is near Kenwood Park. Still in use today as a public park, the address of Oakdale Park is 730 Oakdale Drive, Salina, Kansas.[32][33]

Beginning in 1938, Salina teams played at Kenwood Field. The ballpark had a capacity of 3,500 (1938), 2,100 (1939) and 2,200 (1950). The field dimensions were (Left, Center, Right) 360-380-360 (1939). Kenwood Park is still in use, the address is 821 Kenwood Park Drive, Salina, Kansas.[34][35]

Notable alumni
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References
  1. "Kansas State League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. "Salina Blues Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  3. "1898 Salina Blues Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  4. "1898 Kansas State League (KSL) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  5. "Salina Trade Winners - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  6. "Central Kansas League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  7. "1908 Salina Trade Winners Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  8. "1909 Salina Trade Winners Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  9. "1913 Salina Insurgents Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  10. "1914 Salina Coyotes Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  11. "Southwestern League - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  12. "1922 Salina Millers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  13. "1924 Salina Millers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  14. "1923 Salina Millers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  15. "1925 Salina Millers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  16. "1926 Salina Millers Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. "Western Association - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  18. "1938 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  19. "Salina Millers - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  20. "Salina Millers Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  21. "1946 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  22. "1946 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  23. "1947 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  24. "1947 Western Association (WA) on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  25. "1948 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  26. "1949 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  27. "1950 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  28. "1951 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  29. "1952 Salina Blue Jays Roster on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  30. "Salina, KS - BR Bullpen". Baseball-reference.com. 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  31. "Athletic Park in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  32. "Oakdale Park in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  33. "Welcome to the City of Salina, Kansas - Oakdale Park". Salina-ks.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  34. "Kenwood Field in Salina, KS history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  35. "Welcome to the City of Salina, Kansas - Kenwood Park". Salina-ks.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.

External references

Baseball Reference

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